Spurs notebook: Lineup shift gives Mills first career playoff start

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) looks to dribble around Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) during the first half of Game 5 of the second round of the Western Conference NBA playoffs at AT&T Center, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in San Antonio. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) looks to dribble around...

In the latest round of the Spurs’ point guard shuffle, Patty Mills earned his first career playoff start Tuesday in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Mills became the third point guard to start for the Spurs against Houston, joining Tony Parker — who was injured in Game 2 — and rookie Dejounte Murray, Parker’s replacement in Games 3 and 4.

Mills had 20 points, four assists and one turnover in the Spurs’ 110-107 overtime win in Game 5.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged the shift had “nothing to do with Dejounte” but declined to elaborate on his reasoning.

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The rationale seems clear, though. With the Rockets forced to start small in the wake of Nene’s season-ending groin injury, the Spurs wanted to get more shooting on the floor.

“Instead of having to face him at six minutes to go in the first quarter, you have to face him to start the game,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “They’re going to play with that lineup a lot anyway. It doesn’t really change.”

Mills, 28, has made 18 regular-season starts — including eight in 2016-17 — but never in the postseason.

D’Antoni opened Tuesday’s game with Eric Gordon starting in place of the bigger Ryan Anderson on the perimeter.

Gordon scored 22 points in Houston’s Game 4 victory, equaling his best game of the playoffs. He scored 11 in Game 5.

With Popovich opting to stay big — with twin towers LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol in the frontcourt — it created a slew of interesting matchups.

James Harden, for instance, opened guarding 7-footer Pau Gasol.

“We will play big and we will play small, as we have in all our games,” Popovich said. “Nothing different.”

Capela had been active in the series even before Game 5, averaging 13.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in the first four games. He recorded nine points, 11 rebounds and three blocks Tuesday.

The third-year pro out of Switzerland has not surprised Popovich with his energetic play.

“He’s been really good for them all year long,” Popovich said. “He’s one of those players that doesn’t try to do things he can’t do. He helps the team with the skills that he has, and he’s been consistent in that all year long.”

Good experience: Murray, 20, didn’t play Tuesday after earning his first two playoff starts in Games 3 and 4.

Murray was better in Game 4 than Game 3, with eight points and three assists in 20 minutes. Most importantly, he had only one turnover.

“I got my feet wet and I know how it’s going to be and what to expect,” Murray said.

Free-agent find?Popovich ended his pregame session with the media Tuesday with a crack about FBI director James Comey, who had been fired by President Donald Trump earlier in the day.

“I heard he can really shoot,” Popovich said of the 6-foot-8 Comey. “The rules don’t allow us to sign anybody at this point of the season, or it would be a consideration for sure.”